Prospect Spotlight: Makiah Morris (2019)
Vista guard Makiah Morris vividly remembers the driveway games with his older brother Isaiah, mainly because he came away from those tussles battered and bruised.
Isaiah, a senior committed to Cal State Dominguez Hills, is one of the toughest and most gritty two-way players Southern California and Makiah, a junior, is now reaping the benefits of those childhood showdowns.
“You just have to be aggressive the whole time you’re on the court,” Morris said of what he learned from his brother. “He plays with great passion and that’s what has put him above everybody else. I just play hard all the time I’m out there.
“Most players don’t play as hard as him,” he added. “So it’s easier to go against other guys because they don’t get in you as much.”
While the 6-foot shooting guard needs to work on his defense, ball skills and vision to reach the combo guard level of his brother, Makiah’s shooting stroke, especially off the catch, is one thing he can hold over his sibling’s head.
Vista junior Makiah Morris, a sleeper prospect in the 2019 class, is looking forward to taking on a bigger role as a senior.Morris is a knock-down catch-and-shoot threat from multiple spots beyond-the-arc and continues to extend his range deeper and deeper.
Makiah also thinks there are a couple of aspects of his game that go under-appreciated.
“I think I’m good on the offensive boards, too,” Morris said. “I’m long on defense so I block some shots and get some steals and tips.”
Makiah is currently coming off the bench for the Panthers as it’s senior-heavy backcourt features Isaiah along with Dartmouth-bound point guard Taurus Samuels, but he’s using that role to prepare himself for more much more responsibility next season.
“I need my defense to get quicker on the ball,” Morris said. “I need to get quicker because I’ll be one of the guys next year along with Jordan (Hilstock). We’re going to have to lead and I’m starting to do that this season so we can be ready next season.”